After Jack Bauer detained and tortured Joe Prado for information without authorization by PresidentCharles Logan, Logan ordered Agent Merfield and his partner, Agent Frank Wells, to arrest Bauer. Unfortunately they did so during an operation to capture Habib Marwan, and their interruption caused CTU Agent Lee Castle to inadvertently lose his cover. One of Marwan's lookouts, Atef El-Khabir, spotted Castle approaching. Hikmat alerted Marwan, who was then able to escape from the authorities.

When Merfield was permitted to release Jack, he apologized for his interference in the sensitive operation, and expressed that he had no choice but to follow his orders.